Cane toads: Buffer zone near waterways considered to prevent pests travelling south

An ambitious plan to block the movement of cane toads into the southern half of Western Australia is being considered.

The toad frontline is moving slowly out through the eastern and central Kimberley but attention is turning to whether they can be stopped from moving further south by creating a buffer zone near Broome.

At a seminar in Broome, government agencies, volunteer groups and researchers agreed to investigate the option of establishing a break just south of the town that cuts off the toads' access to waterways.

Cane toad researcher Reid Tingley, from the University of Melbourne, said limiting access to the few waterways in the area will be the plan's key.

"Toads are going to rely critically on water as they move south of Broome," he said.

"It's a pretty dry, hot part of the world, so if we can manage toads at the water bodies, and restrict their access to water, we may be able to stop their spread."

He said setting up fences around natural water bodies and bore heads could help, as could other restrictions.

This, I think, will provide us with a unique opportunity to create a barrier, a waterless firebreak, to stop the spread of toads.

Dr Reid Tingley

"One potential way would be to replace big, open sources of water like dams with tank and trough systems," he said.

"In this part of the world, there is a very narrow stretch of water bodies that connects Broome to the De Grey river in the south and this, I think, will provide us with a unique opportunity to create a barrier, a waterless firebreak, to stop the spread of toads."

Dr Tingley said work is underway to map creeks and dams in the area.

"[It's] a really unique opportunity to potentially create a barrier, a waterless fire break if you will, to stop the spread of toads down this stretch of coast," he said.

He and his colleagues have driven from Port Hedland to Broome, and visited pastoralists to discuss what is planned.

"When the toads arrive, we see big drops in goanna numbers, in snakes, in quolls, and [everyone] we spoke to about this, was worried," he said.

"Basically, no-one wants toads on their property."

Environs Kimberley director Martin Pritchard said the idea has merit but there is still a long way to go.

"We think its potentially a good thing, but there's a lot of science that's got to be done to show that it could actually work," he said.

"You'd have to get the landholders on board, the pastoralists and the TOs [traditional owners] for that area, if you're to make it work successfully."